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(NoModel.) J. H. PENDLETON, C. TIERS,'A. BRYSON,J1-. 8v L. MOSS.

GRIP FOR CABLE RAILWAYS.

No. 404,499. Patented June 4, 1889.

N. PETERS. www Lnhngnphor. wasmnglan. D. cA

(No Model.) s Sheets-sheet 2. J. H. PENDLETON, C. TIERS, A. BRYSON, Jr. 8vA L. MOSS. GRIP POR CABLE RAILWAYS.

No. 404,499. PatentedJune Ll,A 1889.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheen 3.-

J. H. PENDLETON, C. TIERS, A. BRYSON, Jr. & L. MOSS.

GRIP POR CABLE lRA1L.W.L \.YS.

No. 404,499. Patented June 4,1889.

N. PETERS. Phololithogmpher, Whnglon. D. C.

UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OEEICE. n

J OI-IN H. PENDLETON, OF BROOKLYN, AND CORNELIUS TIERS, ANDREW BRYSON, JR., AND LINCOLN MOSS, OF NEI/V YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE` RAPID TRANSIT CABLE COMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

GRIP FOR CABLE RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,499, dated J une 4, 1889.

Application filed November 18, 1888. Serial No. 290.739. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. PENDLETON, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, and CORNELIUS TIERS, ANDREW BRYsoN, J r., and LINCOLN Moss, all of the city and State of New Yorkhave invented an Improvement in Grips for Cable Railways, of which the following is a specification.

Grips for cable railways have been made of two parts hinged together, the hinge being above the jaws, so that the jaws can be closed together in gripping the cable; but with gripping devices in which the jaws are rigid a very sudden strain is applied to the cable and the wire of the cable is rapidly injured and the grip worn out. Two endless belts have also been made use of, upon the surfaces of which are gripping-blocks, and the belts have been pressed one toward the other in gripping the cable.

In the application of C. Tiers, J. H. Pendleton, and A. Bryson, Jr., Serial No. 280,658, filed July 2l, 1888, a single belt is represented, having upon its surface peculiarly-constructed gripping-blocks, and there is a shoe and lifter by which pressure is applied'at one side of the cable to force the same against the blocks upon the endless belt, and in this connection the endless belt'and the wheels for the same receive a movement from the cable by its action against guide-wheels, so that the belt is moving at the same speed, or nearly so, as the cable at the time the grip is brought into action.

In our present improvements We avail ourselves of this last-named feature, so that the endless beltis moving at the same or nearly the same speed as the cable when the grip is applied; butwe apply the gripping-blocks inpairs upon the endless belt, so that the cable comes in contact only with the gripping-blocks, and these gripping-blocks are opened .and closed by lateral pressure, so as to grasp the cable between them. By this improvement we are enabled to make use of only one endless belt or band, andto bring into contact with the cable nothing but the surfaces of the gripping-blocks, and these gripping-blocks are moving with the endless belt at tlie same speed,

or nearly so, as the cable, and in the same direction at the time the g-rip is applied. For this reason there will be little or no more wear upon either the cable or the gripping-blocks than there would be if the parts were at rest at the time the grip is applied, and in consequence of placing the gripping-blocks in pairs in two rangesupon one endless belt the gripping-blocks open automatically by the action of the belt as it tends to'assume a straight and flat condition between one belt-wheel and the other, and in the gripping operation, as the pairs of blocks are brought up against the sides of the cable, the endless belt is bent to a trough or arch shape ybetween one beltwheel and the other, and in passing around the belt-wheels the pairs of gripping-blocks are always swung apart, so as to fully open the space between such pairs of blocks for the reception of the cable. v

By these improvements the endless belt or band passes around the belt-wheels, and these belt-wheels are over the cable upon horizontal shafts instead of being in a horizontal or inclined position upon vertical or inclined shafts, as heretofore usual where two belts are made use of, and the cable is relieved from the friction and wear incidental to the use of a shoe-lifter to press the cable against the grip-blocks upon an endless belt where but one endless belt is employed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a general elevation of our improvements, with the platform-frame in section. Fig. 2 is a cross-section, in larger size, of the grip as open. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the grip as closed. Fig.

.4 is a sectional plan at the line x of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section atthe line y y, Fig. 2, of part of the belt. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the car-platform and the devices for operating the grip. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan of part of the endless belt and of the gripping-jaws, partially in section; and

Fig. 8 is a section of the devices for raising the cable, the view'being endwise of such cable. Fig. 9 shows a modification of the devices for moving the grip-jaws.

A represents the platform of the car, or a portion thereof, such car being adapted to travel upon either an elevated structure or upon a surface railway, our improvements, however,being especiallyadapted to elevated cable railways.

ct Ct are the wheel-axles, anda a the wheels.

Upon the under side of the platform A are the grooved guide-wheels B, secured in hanging brackets, and adjacent to the same is the lifter C, the lower end of which is formed as a hook-shaped shoe, 2, that can pass beneath the cable, and the upper end ot the litter is linked to the lever-arm D, from which the link 3 extends to the hand-lever E, pivoted at et and provided wit-h a pawl 5, acting against the stationary rack F; and there are litters toward the front and back ends of the platform A, and grooved guide-wheels, and the link G conn ects to the hand-lever E below the pivot a, so that by moving this han dslever E both the litters C are raised or lowered; and we provide cords or ropes 7 ,passing around pulleys, to a treadle S, so that the litters C can be drawn back and lowered and then swung by a spring I), or otherwise, until the shoes 2 pass in beneath the cable G, and by moving the lever E the cable is raised bodily until it comes into contact with the grooved guidewhcels 13. These guide wheels B revolve freely, and hence they do not tend to sel the car in motion,and there is but little pressure or friction upon the slices 2, as they should be smooth and ot hardened steel, and in this position the cable is in a straight line, or nearly so, and adapted to being gripped by the mechanism hereinafter described.

Upon the platform A are the bclt-wheels H H', with horizontal axles 10, and we prefer to make use ot pulleys 11 on the axles 10 and endless belts 13 to pulleys upon the axles of the grooved guide-wheelsl, so that when these grooved guide-wheels B are revolved by contact with the cable the belt-wheels 1I ll are rotated gradually, but the belts 13 can slip upon the respective pulleys in the operation hereinafter described. The endless belt or band which we make use of passes around the belt-whcels 11H', and it is coinposed of a band K, of leather, thin steel plates, wire ropes, or other suitable materials, and this bandK maybe of a single thickness or of two or more thicknesses, and the faces ot the belt-wheels Il II are cylindrical; but the belt K is to be flexible', so as to pass freely around the said belt-wheels ll Il', and also lo allow for the said belt being bent up into the inverted trough shape, as seen in Fig. 3; and upon this endless belt are two ranges of grip blocks in pairs, which are opened or moved apart, as shown in Fig. 2, to allow tor the reception or discharge of the cable, or they are pressed together, as shown in Fig. El, to grasp the cable, and in so doing the straight part ot the belt l( is bent into the trough shape before referred to between the wheels ll fil.

The grip-blocks L are preferably made of iron castings that are hollow, concave on their faces, and provided with ribs or flanges 2O on the edges. The bases 15 of the blocks are to be fastened to the endless belt K. XVe prefer, however, to introduce the filling plates or layers 1G, which are riveted to the bases 15 by rows et rivets 17, and the rivets or screws 18 connect the bases of the grip-blocks to the belt K near its edge, and these rivets also pass through the iilling plates or layers 16, so as to connect all the parts together.

The inner surfaces ot the grip-blocks L are preferably of leather, made as layers or sec tions 10, packed closely between the flanges 2O of the grip-blocks L, and there are rivets 2l. passing through the leather sections and through the iianges 20, so as to hold these leather sections firmly into the grip-blocks, and theleather sections project inwardly beyond the flanges 2O sufficiently to term durable wearing-surfaces, that are employed tor gripping the cable; and theseleather sections will last a long while before they are suiiiciently worn away to allow the flanges 2O to come into contact with the cable, and before this happens the leather sections should be taken out and new ones inserted.

The grip-jaws M M are pivoted together upon the longitudinal horizontal hinge 25, and it is preferable to make each. grip-jaw in two parts, bolted together by the bolts 26, so that the lower portions ot the jaws, which are liable to injury, can be removed and replaced. In joining these two portions ot the grip-jaws it is preferable to make a iange or 4rib at 28, passing into a recess upon the other portion of the grip-jaw, and to introduce keys at 27, in addition to the bolts 2G,for connecting the parts together and preventing end motion or a separation ot the parts when in use. The grip-jaws are supported by the hangers ci?, which have eyes surrounding the hinge-phi 25, and said hangers are bolted to the traine A. The inner faces ot the grip-jaws are grooved to correspond to the convex external portions ot the grip-blocks L, and toward the ends ot the gripjaws they are beveled or made flaring, as seen in Fig. 7, so that the extreme ends of such grip-jaws are wider apart than the external surfaces ot the gri p-blocks as they occupy the open position shown in Fig. 2, even after the grip-jaws may have been closed together into the position shown in Fig. 3. Thereby the grip-blocks will not come in contact with any angle or obstruction as they slide in between thc grip-jaws, as illustrated 4in Fig. 7.

Any suitable device may be made use of tor swinging the grip-jaws upon the hinge or pivot 25. XVe, however, prefer to make use ot the lever-arms O, extending upward from the upper portions of the gripjaws and provided with links O', that are pivoted to the upper ends of the lever-arms and joined together at 30 and tothe vertical sliding rack-bar l); and we have shown the pinions 3l, ily-wheels Q, ratcl1etwl1eel Q', and pawl 32 for movin g and holding the rapk-bar l. and openin or closing the grip-jaws M hl.

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It will now be understood that when the car is at rest the grip-jaws M M are usually in an open position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the endless belt of grip-blocks is stationary. l/Vhen the cable G is raised by the lifters C and the grooved guide-wheels B commence to revolve, the endlessrb'elt of gripblocks is moved in the same direction as that of the cable at the place where the cable is between the grip-blocks L, and in-order to prevent the cable being lifted too high we apply at intervals the pendent shields S, that take the place of sets or pairs of grip-blocks and prevent the cable being raised above the concave surfaces of the grip-blocks, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the car is to be started, the fly-wheel Q and pinions are revolved andthe rack-bar P raised, so as to swing' the leverarms O outwardly and bring the jaws M M toward each other. the grip-blocks L L are also swung toward each other and come up at opposite sides of the cable, and in so doing the horizontal portion of the endless belt K, that is between the belt-wheels H H and adjacent to the cable, is arched transversely and upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, and when the grip -blocks L come into contact with the sides of the cable they are moving at the saine speed, or nearly so, as the cable, the convex-exterior surfaces of the grip-blocks sliding freely upon the interior surfaces of the grip-jaws M M and this movement is not interfered with by the ends of the grip-jaws M M because such ends are beveled to allow the grip-blocks to enterbetween them freely; and it is to be understood that the leather sections 19 of the grip-blocks L grasp or adhere to the cable without injuring the same,

and the leathers are not worn by the cable rapidly, because the leather sections and gripblocks are moving' with the cable as the grip is applied; but as the pressure of the gripjaws is gradually increased the friction between the same and the exterior vsurfaces of the grip-blocks is increased, and the car itself receives Ymotion from the grip and its movement is gradually accelerated until a maximum speed, corresponding to that of the cable, is obtained, when there -will not be any slip between the grip-blocks and the grip-jaws,

and the grip will hold firmly to the cable so long as the proper pressure is maintained of the grip-j aws upon t-he grip-blocks; but should it become necessary to lessen the speed of the car the wheel Q and pinions are turned back sufficient to lessen the pressure of the gripjaws, so that the grip-blocks may slide more or less through between such grip-jaws, the

endless belt K and wheels H H revolving more or less with this movement, and when the grip-jaws are sufficiently opened the movemont 4of the car may be arrested by brakes applied to the same, during which time the grip-blocks and endless belt are traveling freely along with the cable, and it is not necessary to open the grip-jaws M M suf- During this movementv ficiently for dropping the cable, except at the ends of the route and when it may be necessary to pass from one track to another.

The concave faces of the grip-j aws M M are exposed to wear from the contact thereW-ith of the convex exterior surface of the gripblocks, and should these jaws become too much Worn or injured they can be replaced by removing the bolts 26, audit will be apparent that as the jaws M M are brought to- 'ward each other and the relative positionsk of the grip-jaws and grip-blocks changed from that represented in Fig. 2 to that represented in Fig. 3, there is a slight turning movement of the one partin relation to the other until the lower surfaces of the bases 15 are brought into contact, or nearly so, with the flat upper faces of the grip-jaws above the concave sur-v face thereof; hence the friction for holding the grip-blocks will be augmented when the lower surfaces of the bases 15 come into contact with the upper surface of the grip-jaws, and in consequence of the rivets or other connections 18 being near the outer edges of the bases 15 of the grip-blocks the endless belt K, of leather or other material, is free to assume an arched or trough-shaped condition, as seen in Fig. 3; but as soon as the pressure of the grip-jaws against the gripblocks -is relieved lthe pairs of grip-blocks will be swung apart, as the endless beltl assumes a flat condition in approaching the belt-wheels H or H. Thus the grip-blocks `are self-acting, as they' swing apart for relieving the hold upon the cableor for dropping the same.

As before mentioned, the belt K can be made of two or more layersand of any suitable material, and it is usuallypreferable to make use of longitudinal belts K next -to the belts K, and running either the whole length of such. belts K or else running from one of' the guide-blocks S to the next, in orderthat the grip-blocks L and the iilling-pieces 16 may be more rigidly supported as they stand in the respective ranges, so as not to depend only upon the strength of the belt K for connecting the grip-blocks L in the ranges; and these belts K become part of the endless belt K, and simply serve to more firmly con- IOO ITO

nect the parts together and furnish the required strength at the proper places. some circumstances these grip-blocks L and` the endless belt K, with which they are connected, may be made useof Without the grip-A ping-jaws M' M', and in order to illustratesuch use We have shown in Fig. 9 a right and left hand screw 40, with cylindrical nuts 41, applied to each pair of blocks and frictionwheels 42 43 at the respective ends of the screw-shafts 40 and stationary rails 44 45,With which such friction-wheels 42 and 43 maybe brought into contact, so that as the car moves along or the belt is moved along by the cable the gripping-blocks can be tightened upon or loosened from said cable by rotating the right and left hand screw in either one di- Under other and at opposite sides of the cable, sub' stantially as set forth.

i?. The endless beltand belt-wheels around which the belt passes, in combination with grip-blocks connected to the endless belt, and sections of leather or similar material within the grip-blocks and recessed for the reception of the cable, and mechanism acting upon the grip-blocks for pressing them toward each other to grasp the cable, substantially as set forth.

3. 'lhe grip-blocks having convex exterior surfaces and sections of leather or similar material in their inner faces, in combination with grip-jaws grooved to lit the convex exterior surfaces of the grip-blocks and meehanism for acting upon the grip-jaws to move themltoward or from each other and grasp the cable between the surface of the gripblocks, or to open such grip-blocks and allow the cable to drop, substantially as specified.

4. rlhe grip-blocks L, formed as hollow castings with the bases l5, in combination with the sections or layers of leather or similar material introduced within the grip-blocks, the filling plates or layers 1G, connected tothe bases of the grip-blocks, and the endless belt K, to which the bases of the grip-blocks are fastened, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination,with the endless belt l( and the wheels H Il', of grip-blocks adapted to grasp the cable and provided with bases by which the grip-blocks are connected to the endless belt, andthe pendent shields introduced at intervals and secured to the belt for preventing the cable beinglifted too high and insuring the proper grasping of the cable as the grip-blocks are brought up at the sides thereof, substantially as set forth.

(i. The combination, with the endless belt andthe grip-blocks upon the same in pairs and adapted to receive the cable between them, of the grip-jaws having concave faces Afor acting against the grip-blocks, a pivot or hinge for connecting the grip-jaws together,

and levers for acting upon the grip-jaws to open or close the same, substantially as set l forth.

7 The combination,with the grip-jaws and the hinge or pivot for connecting the same together, of levers for acting upon the gripjaws, links, a rack and pinion for opening or closing the grip jaws, an endless beltV between the grip-jaws, and grip-blocks in pairs connected upon the belt and passing between the grip-jaws, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. The combination, with the guide-wheels B, lifters C, and mechanism, substantially as specified, for moving' the same, of the endless belt, and grip-blocks in pairs, and the beltwheels around which the endless belt passes, and pulleys and an endless band for giving motion to the belt-wheels from the guide-wheel when the cable is brought into contact with the latter, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the endless belt and grip-blocks connected thereon, of gripjaws, a pivot or hinge for eonnectin g the jaws together, such grip-jaws being made in two parts and bolted together to allow for the removal of the portions or jaws that act on the gri p-blocks for repair or renewal, substantially as set forth.

lO. The endless belt or band and the two ranges of grip-blocks in pairs upon such belt, in combination with the belt-wheels around which the endless belt passes, and awheel receiving rotation from the cable, anda connection therefrom to the belt-wheels for giving to the belt and the two ranges of gripblocks a motion in the same direction as the cable, substantially as set forth.

ll. The combination, with the guide-wheel B, of a cable-lifter having a hook-shaped shoe 2 at the lower end, an actuating-lever and connections from the same to the lifter for raising and lowering the lifter, and a cord or connection for drawing the lifter aside asit is lowered, so that the shoe may pass in below the cable, substantially as specified.

Signed this 10th day of November, 1883.

J. Il. PENDLETON. CORNELIUS TIERS. ANDREW BRYSON, Jn. LINCOLN MOSS.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PlNcKNnY, WILLIAM G. Mo'rT.

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